Friction shock-absorbing mechanism



J, F, OCGNNOR.- FRICTION SHOCK ABSORBING-MECHANSM. APPLICATION` FILED IIIAY 6. 1920,

133639@ #fn Memed Dea ZE., i192@ UNITE ERECTION SHCK-ABSORBING llldlllGHAlr'fSil.

appiicanon inea may e, ieee. .sensi no. crassa.

' To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, JOHN F. OCONNOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Friction Shock-Absorbing Mechanisms, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in friction shock absorbing mechanisms.

One object of the invention is to provide a friction shock absorbing mechanism especially adapted for railway draft riggings wherein are employed a plurality of sets of inde Vendent friction devices to obtain high frictional capacity and means associated with said sets of friction devices to insure certain release. i.

'A more specific object of the invention is to provide a friction shock absorbing mechanism having a twin arrangement of friction devices so arranged that the friction devices operate independently and therefore additively during the compression stroke but, in release, with the wedges of the two sets of devices co-acting with a common interposed member as a single Wedge, for a limited distance, to effect certain release.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide a friction shock absorbing mechaiiism wherein are employed a friction shell. divided into independent f'rictioircliambers,

4a corresponding plurality of sets of friction devices, one set in each chamber, and a partially Heating element cooperating with the friction devices to automatically compensate for inequalities of original manufacture and for wear during service.

The invention furthermore consists in the improvements in the parts and devices and vin the novel combinations of the parts and,

devices herein shown, described and made the subject matter of claim.

ln the drawing forming a pantnnfwjtwhis specification, Figure l is a horizontal longitudinal sectional view of a portion of a railway draft rigging showing my improvements in connection therewith., Fig. 53 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially onthe line 2--2 of Fig, l. Fig. 3

is a transverse sectional vievT of the shock `F- absorbing mechanism proper and correbeing open for` the greater partA the "frictiores" spending substantially to the line 3--3 of .Fig l. And Fig. d is a detail perspective of proper, hereinafter described, front follower 15 is disposed within the yoke and all parts are arranged to be supporte l bya tachable saddle plate 16. tft The shock absorbing mechanism pro as shown, comprises, broadly, a twin arranged springs lul-l; a central loose partition or friction plate or post C; and duplicate sets of friction d Nices each set including a friction-wedge l), a fri E, and an anti-friction roller l?.

rl`he casting il is of suhstantiall lar box-like form and is prev front thereof with upper wall l i8, and side walls www, in surfaces of the latter piovidir tudinally extending friction oii opposite sides of the czis and lower walls 1?*55 are co full length of 'the casting and their rear ends by a back wall on each side indicated at A and also lateral movement w ii rc thereto.A ritt its forward end, the wrtl C is of substantially 1fertile if' rectangular cross section as indn in Fig. i2 so-tliat the forward end r i in@ si is thereby divided into friction chambers, said partition ing friction siirfaceslQfO--lil on site sides thereof and obrioir'i" i iosed to aces llll---d l ,arwardly of the rectangular section Z, the partition or post C changes its shape so as to prov' column having arcuate recesses f the opposite sides thereof (see forni seats for the springs end, the partition C is formed i or foot 25 Vloosely seated in lll@ formed'on the inner side of the bach wall 2l of the casting A. The recess 26 is larger, laterally or transversely of the casting A? than the flange 25 so that the member C may automatically adjust itself iaterally, as will be understood. Furthermore, the thickness of the flange 25, at least where it comes opposite the rear ends of the springs B, is made less than the depth of the recess 26 so that said flange and consequently the partition of which it forms a part, is permitted a longitudinal movement relatively to the casting- A between the overhanging portions of the springs B and the bottom. of said recess 26, The amount of this limited longitudinal movement can be varied as desired but in actual practice will preferably be made about one-eighth of an inch as this will be sufficient for the purposes hereinafter described. s

The sets of friction devices in the twin friction chambers are symmetrically arranged, as clearly indicated in Fig. l and a description of one will sufiice. Each friction-wedge D is extended outwardly beyond the casting so as to. directly engage the front follower l5. Said friction-wedge l) is provided on its inner side with a longitudinally extending friction surface 27 which engages with a corresponding friction surface 120 of the partition C. On its router side, each frictioirwedge D is provided with a .wedge face 28 and a roll seat Q9, the latter being oppositely disposed- "with respect to corresponding wedge face B0 and roll seat 3l on the 4friction shoe lil. The latter is normally out of engagement with the front follower l5 and has an` outer friction surface cooperable with. the corresponding friction surface Q0 of the casting It. The rear end of each friction shoe lil is enlarged so to obtain the necessary bearing on the front end of the corresl'ionding spring l.

To limit the outward movement of the friction elements with respect to the casting A and thereby maintain the parts in assembled relation, the friction-wedges D may be shouldered as indicated at :t3-to engage with correspoinling shoulders 34- on the partition C.

rlhe operation is as follows: Assuming an inward moven'icnt ofthe dr'awbar, the friction-wedges DFD will be forced rearwardly and will slide frictionallv with respect to the partition (l, the latter being held against the rear wall of the castingp. Friction is thus generated between the mcmbers D and C. Sinniltaneously. there will be an outward spreading of the friction shoes ll against the casting il, the spreading pressure being transmitted tln'ough the antifriction rollers F. The shoes ll will be independently resisted by the springs B. ln the comin'essive stroke, therefore, it is evident that the two sets of friction devices net-:spor

operate independently and high capacity is thereby obtained. During the compressive stroke there will be a relatively slight longitudinal movement of the friction-wedges D with respect to their respective friction shoes lll. this movement, in actual practice. approximating one-sixteenth of an inch and will occur because of theslight rolling action of the rollers on the wedges and shoes as in the well known type of Miner friction gear."7 lpon removal ofthe actuating pressure, the two friction wedges D and the cent al partition C will act, in release, as a single nnit or wedge of the Miner friction gear type fo' a distance corresponding to the space between the flange and the overhanging` portions ofthe springs B. rlfhis action of the wedges D and partition C in 'combination with the anti-'friction roller arrangement. is sufficient to relieve the outward or radial pressure of the shoes against the walls of the casting A and permit the springsto project the sets of friction elements outwardly without danger of sticking` the partition jC being heid, of course. against more than the predetermined limited movement by the springs B which will re-act thercagainst after the initial release action.

l By having the central partition C 'frechY adjustable laterally it isv evident that any inequalities in the imniufacture of the friction elements affecting the spacing .between the partition and theside walls of the casting A, will automatically be compensated for and furthermm'e, if'wear on the friction surfaces in one chamber is greater than in the other`r the partition will automaticalli" compensate therefor. v

Although l have herein shown and described what l now consider the preferred manner of carrying ont the invention, the same is merel)Y illustrative and l contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appendcd hereto.

lclaim: j

l. ln a friction shock absorbing mechanism. the combimltion with a hollow fasting provided with interior friction surfaces; of a partition within .said asting di viding the ln'ticr into a plurality of chiambcl's. said partition having friction surfaces opposed to those of thc casting. said partition being freely movable lengthwise of the casting for a limited distance; independent sets of cooperating ridge-friction elements in cach chamber.y one element of each set frictionally engaging said partition; and springmcans for yieldingly resisting movement of the friction elements with respect to the shell and'partition.

2. ln a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a casting having `interim friction surfaces; of a partition having interior longitudinally extending' friction surfaces; of a fricti n-post-partition disposedfwithin said cast'ng, said pai'- tition being freely adjustablellaterally and longitudinally of the casting Within prede- :tei-mined limits. and forming `with the .casting twin arranged friction chambers; friction elements in each of said friction chambersyand spring means for yieldingly resisting relative movement between the friction elements and fhe casting and partition.

.4.1In a friction shock absorbing mechanis i, the combination with a friction shell; of floating longitudinallyI movable partition within said shell andiprovided )Vith friction surfaces opposed to* those of the shell, said partition dividing the shell into twin yfriction chambers; of a set of friction elements in each chamber, each set including a pressurestransmitting wedge frictionally engaging the partition, a friction shoe, and an anti-friction roller between th wedge and shoe; and a spring associated ivi h each set of friction elements, said wedges and the ,partition co-acting-as a unit, during release for a ydistance corresponding to the limited longitudinal movement of the partition with respect to the shell. l

5. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a friction shell; of a Heating longitudinally movable partition within said shell and provided with friction surfaces opposedto those of the shell,

said partitiondividing the shell into-twinfriition chambers of a set of friction elemeiitsin each chambei,'each set including a pressui'e-transmitting wedge frictionally engaging thepartition, a friction shoe and an anti-friction roller between the wedge and -shoe; and a spring associated with each set of friction elements, said wedges and the partition co-acting as a unit, during release for a distance corresponding to the limited longitudinal movement 0f the partition with respect to the shell, s'aid partition being also freely laterally adjustable within the shell.

6..In a friction shock absorbing" mechanism, the combination with a casting pri) vided at one end thereof with a frictiln shell and adapted also to receive springs therein; of a partition disposed within said casting and longitudinally movable with respect thereto for a predetermined limited distance, said partition being provided with friction surfaces opposed to the friction siii'- faces of tlie shell and dividing the latter into twin friction chambers; a set of friction ele- -ments in each of said chambers, each-set including elementshaving opposed wedge surfaces, an anti-friction roller therebetween, and shoulders on the elements engaging said roller to thereby prevent longitudinal separation of the friction elements while in the chamber; springs within the casting and cooperable with the friction elements; and means for limiting the outward movement of one friction element of each set with respect to the' shell.

7. In a] friction shock absorbing mechanism,` thel combination with a casting of substantially hollow box-like form at one end thereof and provided with opposed friction surfaces th'erin, saidcasting having a transversely.extendingl end wallfat its opposite end; of a partition loosely mounted Within said casting and adapted for movement both laterally and longitudinally with respect to the casting, 'said partition being providedwithifiiction surfaces opposing those of the mounted within the casting, one on each.

side of the partition, each spring engaging at its forwardnend, a friction element and, at its rear end, overlapping said flange to limit the outward movement of the partition with respect to the casting.

In witness that I claim the foregoing Is have hereunto subscribed my name this 24th day of April, 1920.

JOHN F. oCoNNoR. Witness: CARRIE GAILING. 

